From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, June 19: Smarting at the defeat of his brother and two-term MP of Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency D K Suresh by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s son-in-law Dr C N Manjunath on a BJP ticket as part of JD(S)-BJP alliance, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has hinted at contesting from the Channapatna assembly constituency vacated by Gowda’s son and present Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
“If the people want me to and the ruling Congress party chooses me as a candidate, I will be left with no other choice but to contest from Channapatna in the forthcoming assembly by-election,” he said.
He was speaking to media persons at his residence in Bengaluru before leaving for Channapatna on Wednesday.
“Channapatna is in my heart. It was part of the erstwhile Sathanur assembly constituency which I represented. My political career actually started from there. The people of Channaptna have been with me in tough times and I have a debt to repay,” he said.
D K Suresh had earlier declined to contest from Channapatna in the by-election on the plea that he will concentrate on his erstwhile parliamentary constituency as the “people still love me and want me.’
Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC chief and is MLA representing Kanakapura assembly constituency, said: “There is an opportunity to develop Channapatna in the same way I have developed Kanakapura. I am visiting the temples of the constituency and adter discussing with the local leaders and voters I will take a decision on contesting later.”
To a pointed question on his brother D K Suresh contesting from Channapatna in the by-election, he replied: “It has not been finalised.”
Shivakumar, while addressing the people near the Kengal Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Channapatna, said his political career started from the temple. “Just as Anjaneya or Hanuman is known for serving Lord Rama, I have come to serve the people. I was made a minister in the S Bangarappa cabinet due to blessings from the people of Channapatna. I seek the blessings of Anjaneyaswamy and the people,” he said.
Referring to the defeat of his brother D K Suresh by the JD(S)-BJP through Dr C N Manjunath as a “personal setback to me,” Shivakumar said the people wanted to teach him a lesson and continue their support. “I am not criticising the winning candidate or blaming anybody for my brother’s defeat. I wish the victorious person serves the people better than Suresh,” he said.
“I am not afraid or scared just because my brother lost. I am a fighter and so is my brother. Right now, my goal is to visit each grama panchayat in Channapatna,” he said and indicated that he has already chalked out a plan for the development of Channapatna.
Why Modi unveiled Kempegowda statue at BIAL?
Responding to BJP criticism that the Congress party has increased allocation of funds for the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations, he said: “Kempegowda is the founder of Bengaluru and the city and the people owe him a lot for his vision and foresightedness. What is wrong in celebrating Kempegowda Jayanti in a grand manner?”
“If increasing allocations of funds for Kempegowda Jayanti is Congress party’s strategy to win over the Vokkaliga community,” Shivakumar said: “Why should we win over the Vokkaliga community, which is behind us. If increasing funds allocation for Kempegowda Jayanti is Congress strategy to win over Vokkaligas, what is BJP’s reply to the hurried manner in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kempegowda statue in front of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru?”
The deputy chief minister ridiculed the BJP for bringing school and college students for Modi’s function at the airport as they were unable to mobilise crowds. “The BJP spent more on the function to unveil the Kempegowda statue near the airport than the actual cost of the statue,” he said.